USA NETWORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MEDIACOM HONOR QUAD CITIES TEACHER WITH A CHARACTERS UNITE AWARD FOR HIS EFFORTS TO COMBAT PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION

Phillip Ambrose, Principal of Thurgood Marshall Learning Center in Rock Island, to Be Recognized at an Awards Ceremony on December 7; Also Featured on USA Network On-Air and Online as Part of Characters Unite Campaign

WHAT:

Continuing its highly successful multiplatform public service campaign to address social injustices and bridge cultural divides, USA Network, along with its distribution partners, have selected ten winners for the 2012 Characters Unite Awards. The winners were selected from hundreds of nominees for their extraordinary efforts in combating prejudice and discrimination while increasing tolerance and acceptance in their communities.

Each honoree will be acknowledged during a hometown award ceremony and will receive a $5,000 grant from USA Network and participating local distribution partners to support his/her project or related nonprofit organization. Additionally, honorees will be featured on-air in a PSA and online at charactersunite.com.

Local Davenport resident Phillip Ambrose is among the ten winners selected and will be recognized at an award ceremony in Rock Island, IL. Phillip Ambrose is a Principal at the Thurgood Marshall Learning Center, an alternative school serving the Rock Island/Milan School District in Illinois. Under the leadership of Principal Ambrose, the school pursues and engages in compelling projects to increase awareness of diversity, tolerance and respect through innovative cross-curricular activities. Most recently, with the school’s Tuskegee Airmen Project, students studied how the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first squadron of African-American pilots, overcame prejudice to achieve their goal of fighting for their country. The next project the school plans to undertake is entitled Beyond the Dream; 50 years (1963-2013), which studies tolerance in America and the impact of significant events and people over the course of the last 50 years, from Dr. King’s famous “I have a dream” speech to Barack Obama’s presidency.

Mediacom Communications is the local distribution partner for USA Network, and will be co-hosting the awards program and lunch at Thurgood Marshall Learning Center.